WEEKLY LEGISLATIVE REPORT – March 20, 2009

Senate protects HOPE funding for books and fees

By Sen. Tim Golden

On Wednesday, the Senate passed legislation that would make it easier for college students to continue using HOPE Scholarship funds for book purchases and related fees. HB 157 would modify the "trigger" mechanism that currently requires the state to cut back on using Georgia Lottery revenues for HOPE funding to reimburse college students for textbook purchases.

The present system reduces the use of HOPE funds for books and fees if lottery proceeds decline at all during a calendar year. This legislation would put the trigger into effect only if the HOPE reserve fund declines by 8 percent. The trigger provision was implemented three years ago out of concern that lottery sales might decline and the HOPE fund would run out of money. That fear turned out to be unfounded.

As a legislative supporter of the HOPE Scholarship since its inception, I am glad to see this step in the right direction for the future of the program. Having already passed the House of Representatives, HB 157 now goes to the governor for his signature.

A majority in the Senate voted to pass HB 100, which would expand a state program implemented last year that provides income tax credits to individuals and corporate entities that donate to organizations set up to provide scholarships for parents to pull their children out of public schools and send them to private schools.

HB 100 was presented to the Senate by the legislature's most vocal proponent of private school vouchers. I voted against this measure because it is another reduction in state revenue at the expense of our already underfunded public school system.

Senators also voted Wednesday to bring Georgia's pension law in compliance with federal regulations. HB 202, which awaits the governor's signature before becoming law, affects five state retirement systems: the Employees Retirement System, the Legislative Retirement System, the Public School Employees Retirement System, the Judicial Retirement System and the Georgia Defined Contribution Plan.

By adopting rules and regulations that comply with Internal Revenue Service regulations, HB 202 would ensure that retirement system members are not taxed on their pensions until their retirement is filed.

The Student Health and Physical Education Act was adopted by the Senate on Thursday. HB 229 would require public school systems to conduct an annual fitness assessment and comply with state physical education instruction requirements.

Under the legislation, public school students enrolled in physical education would be required to undergo an annual physical fitness test, with a report going home to parents. I voted against this proposal, which now goes to the governor's desk, because it is another unfunded mandate on our local schools.

On Friday, the Senate voted to send legislation to the governor that would change Georgia's workers' compensation law as it relates to the decisions of an administrative law judge and in the appeals process. HB 330 provides that an employee's waiver of confidentiality includes medical history related to the condition for which the employee is claiming compensation. Under the bill, certain final settlement payments are to be paid by the employer to a person or corporation appointed by the Superior Court.

Meanwhile, the House passed legislation I co- sponsored that would strengthen the state's food safety laws in an effort to avoid future incidents like the tainted peanut butter episode in Early County. If signed into law by the governor, SB 80 would require more frequent inspections and immediate reporting of salmonella or other contamination to the Department of Agriculture.

The House Economic Development & Tourism Committee favorably reported SB 117, which I co-sponsored as a means of expanding the "Made in Georgia" campaign. This legislation would direct the Department of Economic Development to create and maintain a web site informing the public of Georgia manufacturers and the goods they produce.

Sen. Tim Golden represents District 8 (Brooks, Cook, Lowndes and Thomas counties) in the Georgia State Senate. During the legislative session, contact him at 121-A State Capitol, Atlanta, Ga. 30334; by phone at 404-656-7580 or by e-mail at tim.golden@senate.ga.gov.